We've defined one of the major roles of the Surrey Foundation as an organization that aims to strengthen its community by facilitating philanthropy and partnering with donors to build permanent investment funds to support community issues.

A community foundation's board members and staff play a leadership role in building social capital - the so-called glue that holds communities together.  As a team, these individuals encourage and support dialogue on important issues affecting the community and serve as a catalyst for positive change, today and for the future.  These dedicated leaders in the community strive to unify diverse groups within the community towards achieving a common goal: a healthy, vibrant city.

A recent initiative of the Surrey Foundation is the partnership with SFU Surrey in presenting two workshops through their Community Outreach and Engagement Program.  The Complete Proposal from A to Z held in January 2008, was a hands-on workshop aimed at development officers, volunteers, and management responsible for funding their agency from granting organizations.  Of the topics presented, two key components were researching potential funders and strategies for effectively soliciting from organizations.

The second workshop in the series, Governance for the Not-For-Profit Organization, was held on March 4, 2008.  The dialogue roundtable was aimed at Executive Directors, Senior Management, and other personnel whose primary reporting relationship is to the Board of Directors; volunteers such as the chair and the incoming chair of Boards, and the chair or nominating committees.  Topics included structure, governance models and board responsibilities.

Facilitators of these workshops were Vivian A. Smith who has over 25 years experience working with community organizations and providing effective, ethical services to the non-profit sector, and Dr. John McKendry who's background includes service on boards of universities, colleges, hospitals, and self-governing professional bodies.